Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota is reviving his efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, a move he has been discussing with former President Trump’s administration. Rounds intends to reintroduce his bill following Trump’s recent executive order aimed at abolishing the department.
In a statement, Rounds emphasized the need to eliminate what he described as the ineffective federal education bureaucracy, stating, “The federal Bureaucracy of Education has never educated a single student. It’s time to shut it down.” He believes that decisions regarding education should be returned to state and local authorities, although he assures that essential programs like special education will remain intact.
Previously, Rounds introduced the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” but it did not reach a vote in the Democrat-controlled Congress. His bill would not only seek to abolish the Department of Education but also distribute its responsibilities to other departments, ensuring that important educational programs are preserved.
Throughout his campaign trails, Trump reiterated his commitment to closing the Department of Education and moving educational oversight back to states. During the signing of the executive order, Trump assured that vital support for programs such as Pell Grants and resources for disabled children would continue.
With support from Rounds and other conservative leaders, there is growing momentum to shift control back to local entities where it may lead to better outcomes for students across the nation.
